Rail bender



H. RUDGERS.

' RAIL BENDER,

, 1920. L42 59 l 35 u Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

narran sraras i HUGH RODGERS, OF SULLIVAN, INDIANA.

RAL BENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, i922.

Application led December 1, 1920. Serial No. 427,590.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH Remeras, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Sullivan, in the county of Sullivan and State of Indiana, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Rail Benders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail benders and is an improvement on my application filed September 27, 1919, Serial No. 326,747, allowed April 22, 1920.

An important object of this invention is to provide novel means for mounting the ratchet Wheel on the tensioning screw in such a manner that the side thrust on the ratchet wheel is effectively taken up so that the operation of the rail bender will be rendered easier.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a rail bender of the character set forth in my previous application and which is provided with a simple guard arrangement adapted for protecting the ratchet wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail bender having novel means for mounting the handle in such a manner that the same may be operated in either direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail bender which is simple to operate.y efficient in use and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved rail bender;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the preferred form of rail bender.

In the drawing, the numeral 30 generally designates a beam having its forward porv tion curved longitudinally to form a laterally projecting arm 31 which as illustrated in Figure 1 is provided with a socket 32 adapted for the reception of a portion of a rail to be bent. The intermediate portion of the beam iS provided with a transverse opening through which a tensioning screw 33 extends. The forward portion of the tensioning screw 33 is formed with a socket 34 also adapted for the reception of a portion of the rail to be bent. A nut 35 is threaded onto the tensioning screw 33 on opposite sides of the beam and is employed when it is desired to adjust the socket 34 with relation to the socket 32 when preparing the apparatus for use.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the Irear end portion of the beam is somewhat enlarged and is formed with a longitudinally extending opening 36 within which a ratchet wheel generally designated by the numeral 37 arranged. The ratchet wheel 37 is as illustrated in Figure 3 formed with an interiorly screw threaded opening 38 which is alined with openings 39 formed in the side walls 40 of the opening 36 whereby a second tensioning screw 41 may be extended transversely through the beam in spaced parallel relation to the tensioning screw 33.

Then the ratchet wheel 37 is rotated the tensioning screw 41 will` of course, be moved longitudinally so as to bend the rail seated within the sockets 32, 34 and the socket 42 formed in the forward end of the tensioning screw.

The means for rotating the ratchet wheel in the desired direction comprises a pair of spaced parallel straps 43 secured to opposite sides of the attaching shank 45 of a handle member 46 by means of spaced bolts 47. The forward portions of the straps 43 are enlarged and are of annular formation. as indicated at 48, so that the same may be arranged on opposite sides of the ratchet wheel outwardly of annular shoulders 50 formed on the ratchet wheel. Therefore, it will be apparent that the ratchet wheel serves as a supporting means for the handle 46. A double acting pawl 52 pivoted to the straps 43 by means of a pivot bolt 53 is adapted for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel so that a movement of the handle about the axis of the tensioning screw 41 will result in the rotation of the ratchet wheel.

vWashers 54 are arranged between the sides of the ratchet wheel and the opposite sides of the opening 36 and act as anti-friction elements during the operation of the device.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the side walls are are, of course, yseated in annular grooves 5,6V

in opposite sides 'of the annuli and the walls 40. By reason ot' this construction the strain on the ratchetwheel is eftectually taken up so that the device may be operated without excessive effort on the part of the operator. As illustrated in Figure `2, the ratchet wheel 37 is provided with a longitudinally curved guard 60 which has its ends secured to the beam. The guard 60 prevents the teeth of the ratchet wheellrom engaging the ground `and possibly picking up stones and the like.

With reference to the foregoing. description taken in. connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that a rail bender constructed in accordancewith this invention maybe operated by one man since the friction on the several parts is reduced to a? minimum.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

yIn a rail bender having an L--sliaped beam with rail-engaging jaws formed at tlieend of its short arm, a transverse aperture and circular holes communicating therewith ad-v jacent the endoi' its long arm, a connecting Wall being formed at its extreme end, and the intermediate portion of said long arm being provided with an opening -,}`L1`I 1ning parallel with said holes and with said short arm, ,thev combination with a pair of rail.- gripping members having threaded Shanks, one of said members engagingzin said-opening, and nuts for adjustably securing said first member therein, the second member eri-- gaging in said holes, a bifurcated operating handleiitting with itsprongs in said aperture' and arouljid'saijd .secoi'idmembeig an nternally threaded ratchet wheel. engaging with said second n'xembery between said prongs, a pawlhinged onV said handle adapted to engage with `said ratchet wheel, and

roller bearings inserted between the internal sur-tace otsaid aperture and said prongs on the handle, and an arcuate guard'v plate Covering the teeth of Said ratchet Wheel protruding on one. side of said aperture, said guard; plate being rigidly secured to said connecting-'wall and tothe body et said L-shaped beam.

In testimony whereof' I affix myk signature.

vIdriss Boneless. a a. ai t 

